Summary of Green News: 31 Oct 08

Local News

• Environmental pact sees F&B packaging waste down 17% (Channel NewsAsia) – The National Environment Agency (NEA), said that signatories to the Singapore Packaging Agreement, has cut down their packaging waste by 850 tonnes since they joined it last June.
• Good things do come in small packages (Today) – The 3R Packaging Awards will be given out to the Singapore Packaging Agreement signatories that have made notable efforts in their waste minimisation programmes and to reduce packaging waste.
• More than just hot air (Today) – Wind energy is making its first inroads into Singapore and it may be possible to tap on wind as an alternative energy source.
• New sand substitute sets green milestone in Singapore (Straits Times via Wildsingapore) – Geocycle Singapore, a joint venture of cement maker Holcim Singapore and recycler ecoWise Holdings, has set up a new plant to recycle used copper slag as a substitute for sand in the making of ready-mixed concrete.
• Fitting 70% of roofs with solar panels achievable (Straits Times via Wildsingapore) - It is possible to put solar panels on 70% of Singapore’s rooftops and generate 11,550 gigawatt hours of power for the needs of 2.8 million people.

Global News

• DHL E-Billing to Cut Paper Invoices by One-Third (GreenBiz) – By 2010, DHL expects to have its e-Billing system rolled out in Europe and to cut the amount of paper invoices by one-third.
• Telecommuting and the Green Office of the Future (GreenBiz) – Businesses are becoming greener through telecommuting and it makes sense too.

Sustainable Energy for Urban Scenarios

Speaker: Mr Duncan Macleod, Vice-President, Shell Future Fuels, Singapore

Venue: Lecture Room 423, Blk 3, Level 4, School of Design and Environment, National University of Singapore

This seminar discusses the portfolio of energy options such as biofuels, hydrogen and electrification, and the need for greater cooperation between the private sector, academia, NGOs and governments to find solutions. Details and registration at the ISEAS website.

Green Investments Summit 2009

Add an unprecedented escalation in global energy and commodity prices with the current demise of the investment sector and we have in our hands one of the biggest financial crisis in history.

What you do now? Find the silver lining of course. The best of opportunities often rise from the worst of crisis.

“Going Green” is no longer simply taking an “environmental friendly” mind-set. It is now a full-fledged profit play.

With this in mind, Finance Connection is proud to introduce Green Investments Summit 2009. With the theme, “Generating Unique Investment Perspectives and Partnerships for Clean Technology, Socially Responsible Companies and Capital Owners”, GIS 2009 is an ideal platform for investors, governments, project owners and intermediaries to discuss and debate on the exciting opportunities for green investments in Asia. Look forward to hear from the best of minds on what you need to do to maximise your returns.

The potential for Renewable Energy Investments sees no end but seats to this event are limited. Join us this 9-11 February 2009 in Hong Kong.

Register now in 3 simple ways:

1) Email marketing@alleventsgroup.com

2) Call us at +65 6506 0965

3) Log on to http://www.alleventsgroup.com/greeninvest2009

Green Business Times is the marketing partner of Green Investments Summit 2009.

Green Business Times Interview – Brother International Singapore Pte Ltd

Green Business Times is conducting interviews with business leaders, companies and organisations, who would share their views on going green and achieving environmental sustainability. This week, we have the privilege of interviewing Mr Takeo Shimazu, Managing Director of Brother International Singapore Pte Ltd.

About Brother International Singapore Pte Ltd

Brother is a leader in the development and manufacturing of technologies in the printing, communication and digital imaging industries for homes, SOHOs and enterprises who demand solutions that empower businesses and individuals to communicate ideas in every possible way. A trusted brand worldwide that believes in the “Customer First” approach in all aspects of their business, Brother has continuously met the varied needs of their customers through their comprehensive range of quality printing solutions. Brother’s regional South East Asia headquarters, with fully integrated sales, marketing and services capabilities is located in Singapore. Across the region, Brother has subsidiaries in Thailand, Philippines and Malaysia, as well as liaison offices in Indonesia and Vietnam. Read more

Green Engineering with Graphical System Design Platform

National Instruments is organising a free seminar on “Green Engineering with Graphical System Design Platform” at Suntec. This seminar will show how National Instruments practises green engineering with the graphical system design platform to conserve energy, identify inefficiencies, increase uptime and reduce scrap. Details and registration at the National Instruments website.

Should Southeast Asia Go Nuclear?

Venue: Mannaseh Meyer Building, Seminar Room 3-1, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, 469C Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 259772

This open public forum discusses the energy requirements of Southeast Asian countries, and explores the option of adopting nuclear energy, including technologies, implementation, regulation, and safety issues. Details and registration at the LKYSPP website.

The Biofuels and Food Security Forum

Venue: The Auditorium, National University of Singapore University Hall, Lee Kong Chian Wing, Level 2, 21 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119077

This forum is organised by the Energy Studies Institute and the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, and will explore the pros and cons of the use of biofuels as an alternative fuel, against the backdrop of soaring oil and food prices in past months. The forum panelists include:

• Ambassador Paulo Alberto de Silveira Soares, Embassy of Brazil in Singapore
• Dr Hong Yan, Director of Plant Biotechnology, Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory (NUS)
• A/Prof Wang Jing-Yuan, Director, Environmental Engineering Research Centre (NTU)
• Prof Claudia Ann Kinsey, Clinical Nutritionist, Centre for Natural Medical Science Singapore
• Dr Geh Min, Immediate Past President, Nature Society (Singapore)

Check out details and registration here.

Summary of Green News: 23 Oct 08

Local News

• New book on how Singapore achieved environmental and water sustainability (Straits Times via Wildsingapore) – A new book, Clean, Green And Blue, published by the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies gives a detailed look at how Singapore achieved environmental and water sustainability in 40 years.
• Recycling food waste into biogas in Singapore (Business Times via Wildsingapore) - IUT Global Pte Ltd is a Singapore-based company that operates a bio-methanisation plant to convert food waste into biogas and compost.
• New ways to help businesses cut power bills (Straits Times via Wildsingapore) – The National Environment Agency recently announced the Sustainable Energy Fund to help companies design their premises in the most energy-efficient manner, train their own energy managers, and pay for energy audits and energy-efficient technologies.

Global News

• Google’s chief of environmental policy explains strategy (International Herald Tribune) - Dan Reicher, director of climate and energy initiatives explains Google’s energy strategy and green investments.
• Cost Savings, Not Planet Savings Drives Green IT (Environmental Leader) – A survey at Storage Expo 2008 showed that 70% of businesses said green IT is a priority as long as it saves money.
• DHL Says Small Efficiencies Can Deliver Big Carbon Savings (ClimateBiz) – DHL is making small changes to improve efficiency in all parts of its supply chain, thus reducing carbon emissions and operating costs.

Presentation on Green Collar Jobs by Van Jones

This is an inspiring and entertaining video presentation by Van Jones about reducing poverty and keeping people out of jails through green collar jobs. Green collar jobs are middle-skill and local jobs such as installing solar panels, retrofitting buildings, repairing hybrid cars, planting trees, and other work that are relevant to the new green economy. Van Jones is the Founder and President of Green For All and the recent author of the book, The Green Collar Economy.

Green collar jobs are something worth developing further in Singapore, since the government is trying to retrain workers and help them stay competitive in today’s ever-changing economy. The Singapore Certified Energy Manager (SCEM) programme is one example of preparing middle-skill workers for green collar jobs. Under the SCEM　Associate Level, those with Higher NITEC and Diploma qualifications can apply for training grants to be trained as energy professionals. The training focuses on skill training and practical development in energy auditing works, installations, measurements and instrumentations.

The government can look into other potential green collar jobs and help middle-skill, retrenched or senior workers to retrain and upgrade their “green skills”. This would help them to take advantage of jobs in the new green economy.

The Fuel of the Future – Hydrogen

Speaker: Dr. George M. Sverdrup, Laboratory Program Manager, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, Colorado, US

Venue: The Auditorium, National University of Singapore, University Hall, Lee Kong Chian Wing, Level 2, 21 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119077

The speaker will discuss the promise of hydrogen as an energy carrier, and share on the hydrogen R&D program at the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Check out details and registration here.

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